Doug T.
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Post by Doug T. on Jan 20, 2014 11:33:48 GMT -5
Hi All! We went to the local indoor flea market yesterday, and I found an old Argus Seventy-Five to play with for 5 bucks. I didn't bother to try and get it cheaper because I wasn't in the mood. You might ask, why I wasn't in the mood (or not ), well, it was because I'd just found something else that made me very happy! I found an A.T.Cross fountain pen, in deep purple enamel, mint unused condition, in a bag of old pencils (I also collect old writing instruments) for the sum of 25 cents US 25 cents!! I asked the seller if he knew what it was. He said yes, an old fountain pen. "People don't use those anymore, I just want to get rid of it." It's a beautiful pen, and I'll post a photo of it if anyone is interested. Doug BTW, Yes I still write cursive, and use them all the time.
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Jan 20, 2014 13:00:57 GMT -5
Fountain pens are so much nicer to write with than other pens. Cross pens aren't cheap here - I suspect £30 upwards to almost whatever you want to spend. Mind you, some of the pencils might be valuable too!
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Doug T.
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Post by Doug T. on Jan 20, 2014 14:02:21 GMT -5
25cents!! I think it's a thing of beauty, and can't wait to use it Doug
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Jan 20, 2014 14:28:51 GMT -5
I think you've been robbed, Doug. That's worth no more than 24 cents.
...but really, what an excellent find. It oozes quality.
When I was young we had a little village shop run by Mr. Matthews. I recall buying a "bottle" of ink. It was a little stone jar with a cork in it. This would have been about 1955. Thereafter the bottles were glass with plastic tops. Parker was probably our name in fountain pens and ink, with Swan also being in the ink business. Conway Stewart, another British firm, made pens. I don't recall Cross pens from that era, but Waterman, from the USA, Sheaffer (? where from) were quite common.
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Jan 20, 2014 14:59:34 GMT -5
Fountain Pen Lovers,
I used a fountain pen for almost 30 years of my working career. When I started, my clients, lawyers, objected to them because they left blobs on the paper and also messed up their french cuffs and expensively manicured hands. The Registry offices would not accept ballpoint signatures claiming they could be removed with cellulose tape and transferred to another document. I bought a beautiful black and gold new antique Parker Vacumatic 5 ladies pen ( only about 4-1/2" when closed ) for $5.00. I still use it.
Although, now with the onset of rheumatoid arthritis and neuropathy combined, I find it difficult to manage a round instrument and keep it in proper position. After frantically searching for several years for something including a number of excellent Chinese pens and finding nothing that felt like my Parker, I found the solution to my problem. A beautiful German made Lamy fountain pen. Its grip has an almost triangular shape and always stays in the correct position. And its extra fine nib feels just right. It is now my daily writing tool although I do struggle frequently with Miss Parker to make sure she doesn't dry up.
There is something very personal about a fountain pen that cannot be matched with a ball bearing on a stick. Indeed, "My pen" really means "MY PEN".
Mickey
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Doug T.
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Post by Doug T. on Jan 20, 2014 15:09:25 GMT -5
Hi Mickey!
I'll have to look into the Lamy, I didn't think anyone made a fountain pen with a triangular grip. I found a package of Dixon Ticonderoga tri-write (triangular) pencils that have become a favorite of mine. I use them a lot, They ARE more comfortable to use. I'll send you a couple to try if you like.
Doug
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Jan 20, 2014 15:49:16 GMT -5
Hi Mickey! I'll have to look into the Lamy, I didn't think anyone made a fountain pen with a triangular grip. I found a package of Dixon Ticonderoga tri-write (triangular) pencils that have become a favorite of mine. I use them a lot, They ARE more comfortable to use. I'll send you a couple to try if you like. Doug Doug, www.wonderpens.ca/This is a relatively new company owned by a very dedicated and amenable young couple who are a pleasure to do business with. They have an excellent selection of pens and all kinds of writing materials at very fair prices. Their catalogue is fascinating. They are in Toronto. Mickey P.S. Thanks for the pencil offer. I have a good selection which I use for drawing and really don't require any more. M.O.
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Post by kodaker on Jan 20, 2014 19:50:40 GMT -5
I too am a collector of writing instruments. I have been doing it for a long time and have several hundred fountain pens and mechanical pencils. My favorites are the Parker 51s. I carry one all the time. That is a nice Cross pen you got, I have some Cross fountain pens and they are quality pens, but not many are great writers. I like the prices at the Wonderpens web site, just wish they would ship to the US. I use fountain pens a lot but also like mechanical pencils and wish that some good pen company would make a new model of a combo pen/pencil. They only seem to make new pens that are more jewelry than user pens. ....Fred
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Jan 20, 2014 22:55:09 GMT -5
I too am a collector of writing instruments. I have been doing it for a long time and have several hundred fountain pens and mechanical pencils. My favorites are the Parker 51s. I carry one all the time. That is a nice Cross pen you got, I have some Cross fountain pens and they are quality pens, but not many are great writers. I like the prices at the Wonderpens web site, just wish they would ship to the US. I use fountain pens a lot but also like mechanical pencils and wish that some good pen company would make a new model of a combo pen/pencil. They only seem to make new pens that are more jewelry than user pens. ....Fred I doubt that I will have much influence but I will talk to Jon and Liz about shipping south. Do you know if you must pay duty on pens coming from here? If I can show them that it is a simple procedure they might change their policy. I know it is aggravating. Often I want to purchase something on eBay but the vendors will not ship to Canada. Mickey
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Jan 21, 2014 18:21:38 GMT -5
This has developed into an interesting thread.
I recall going to see the overhead railway in Liverpool not long before it closed in the second half of the 1950s. I bought one of the newfangled liquid-lead pens (though, of course, the design had been round for some time) which were just starting to become popular. From then on the writing was on the wall for the quill.
I have to say I write very little these days. Most things work-wise are written via the keyboard.
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Jan 21, 2014 21:51:58 GMT -5
I too am a collector of writing instruments. I have been doing it for a long time and have several hundred fountain pens and mechanical pencils. My favorites are the Parker 51s. I carry one all the time. That is a nice Cross pen you got, I have some Cross fountain pens and they are quality pens, but not many are great writers. I like the prices at the Wonderpens web site, just wish they would ship to the US. I use fountain pens a lot but also like mechanical pencils and wish that some good pen company would make a new model of a combo pen/pencil. They only seem to make new pens that are more jewelry than user pens. ....Fred I doubt that I will have much influence but I will talk to Jon and Liz about shipping south. Do you know if you must pay duty on pens coming from here? If I can show them that it is a simple procedure they might change their policy. I know it is aggravating. Often I want to purchase something on eBay but the vendors will not ship to Canada. Mickey Kodaker, They are new and are taking one cautious step at a time. I don't blame them. I know of no shop like theirs in all of the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) so they should do well. If you wish I can purchase what you want and mail it to you. I am sure they would advise me about proper packaging. I do, however, think that ink might be taking too much of a chance with breakage or freezing. I am not a pen collector. I just accumulated about a dozen in my search for the perfect one. Mickey
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Doug T.
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Post by Doug T. on Jan 24, 2014 11:07:30 GMT -5
Mickey, I also have been looking for a smooth writing pen, that's how I got interested in them. Somewhere along the way, it became fun for me. I've been avidly collecting for a year or two. Some of the smoothest fountain pens I've found are the Jinhao branded ones; they don't cost much, but are well worth the effort to find and use. Recently, I purchased a Hero model 529 with a fine point nib. I love this one and use it for my everyday writing. It cost me a whopping 2.98 USD with free shipping!! When it arrived, I gave it a good cleaning and tune up before use. It comes with an ink converter, and looks very cool. I'll post a photo later. Seems I've got a thing for Chinese fountain pens I also use a Pilot B2P gel pen. It's made in Japan of recycled water bottles ( B2P = Bottle 2 Pen. Clever,eh? ). It's a nice writer as well. I write a lot, and have been using my computer less each day. It's not that I don't want or use it, but someone has to show the kids how it's done! They need to know. Doug
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Jan 24, 2014 13:22:18 GMT -5
My father always used to use the phrase "It's on the nib of my pen" when knew the answer but couldn't quite recall it.
Unfortunately, with all these multiple part forms ball point pens have to be used, and to satisfying scanners they often have to be black ink too - and that's when the computer isn't in use. My old green-inked fountain pen has limited use these days.
Maybe we should scrap this forum and send each other hand-written letters instead - using fountain pens of course.
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Jan 24, 2014 16:26:45 GMT -5
Mickey, I also have been looking for a smooth writing pen, that's how I got interested in them. Somewhere along the way, it became fun for me. I've been avidly collecting for a year or two. Some of the smoothest fountain pens I've found are the Jinhao branded ones; they don't cost much, but are well worth the effort to find and use. Recently, I purchased a Hero model 529 with a fine point nib. I love this one and use it for my everyday writing. It cost me a whopping 2.98 USD with free shipping!! When it arrived, I gave it a good cleaning and tune up before use. It comes with an ink converter, and looks very cool. I'll post a photo later. Seems I've got a thing for Chinese fountain pens I also use a Pilot B2P gel pen. It's made in Japan of recycled water bottles ( B2P = Bottle 2 Pen. Clever,eh? ). It's a nice writer as well. I write a lot, and have been using my computer less each day. It's not that I don't want or use it, but someone has to show the kids how it's done! They need to know. Doug Doug, The trouble with some of those attractive smooth writing 'Chinese' *( See below ) pens is that **the beautiful gold rings and bands are only printed on the surface and wear off in short order. I have what was once a lovely dark green and gold Pilot pen. It still is very good to write with as a *dip pen **but two of the gold rings around the base of the cap are almost gone. Beneath one of the bands is revealed the word ** 'JAPAN'. *To add insult to to a deep wound, the ink bladder has been rubbing against the interior wall and now leaks. I have not thrown it away as it is a good example of a bad pen. I have no idea how one can tell in advance what one may be getting. My old very well used - 30+ years - black and gold Parker Vacumatic still looks and writes like new. My new Lamy is all charcoal black. No fugitive colours here. Mickey
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Post by philbirch on Jan 31, 2014 18:50:47 GMT -5
What a great topic.
I went to The High School of Art in Manchester between '68 and '72 , we had to use ink pens and write in italic until at least third year. If you didn't have a fountain pen you used a cheap dip pen and inkwells. I had an Osmiroid fountain pen that I stole from Boots. I'm not proud of that but it got nicked off me within a week. Karma I suppose. And it had a left handed nib!
In art we learned how to make a quill pen. Pen is the name of a female swan where the feathers came from, you used a special pocket knife to cut the end of the feather. This was called a pen-knife. We also learned to make our own ink. recipe below.
I bought a Cross pen a few years ago as I get fatigued easily when using ball points. It was perfect at work then someone picked it up and dropped it. End of pen. I never bought a new nib because I discovered gel pens.
I've never looked back and use gel all the time.
Recipe for home made ink:
6 rusty iron nails a dozen acorns. Oak apples are better but not so common. Half a pint of water.
preparation time: 2 weeks
Method: Wet the nails and let them rust. scrape the rust off and collect it. Of course you can scrape rust off old railway lines, shed hinges, my wallet etc. get plenty!
Crush the acorns and boil them in the water. Let them steep for a few days. While the iron is rusting. Add the rust and the water should turn blue. Put it all in an air tight container. Leave it to stand for a few days shaking it vigorously every now and then. Strain it off and filter through a coffee filter.
The longer you leave it the deeper the blue.
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